Road Safety in Europe: ETSC Perspectives for GAMBIT 2008 Gdansk, 23rd April 2008 Ellen Townsend, ETSC
Introduction to ETSC A science - based approach to road safety policy 39 organisations o s from across Europe under one unique umbrella promoting science-based transport safety measures at EU level (Motor Transport Institute and Road & Safety) More than 200 experts contributing to ETSC s Projects, Reviews, Policy Papers, Newsletters, Positions, Lectures, Press Releases, Year Books, etc. Funding: The European Commission, member organisations, member states and corporate sponsors 10 Secretariat t staff members do their utmost t to coordinate projects and insert the knowledge of ETSC members and experts into EU transport safety policy-making
ETSC: priority-based safety work Monitoring EU transport safety policy Ranking EU countries performances - Road Safety PIN Preventing Drink Driving and Speeding Protecting Vulnerable Road Users - VOICE Campaigning for the treatment of high risk infrastructure R2R
Road Safety in Europe 42,829 deaths in the EU in 2006 39,200 deaths in the EU-25 Around 3.5 million injuries EU Socio-economic cost: 200 billion Non-quantifiable pain and suffering
Deaths per million population 2006
The EU target and Strategy Insufficient progress towards the target White Paper (2001) Cutting road deaths by 50% by 2010 3rd Road Safety Action Programme (2003) Sharing responsibility
Reduction in road deaths 2001-2006 2006 (%)
nd Eston nia Bulgar ria Roman nia Hunga ary Lithuan nia Reduction in road deaths 2001-2006 2006 10% Luxembourg - 48% 0% France - 42% Portugal - 42% Poland - 5.3% -10% -20% -30% -40% -50% Luxembour rg Franc ce Portug gal Switzerlan nd Mal lta Belgiu um Denma ark Latv via German ny The Netherlands Spa ain Austr tria Finlan nd Czech Republi ic Swede en Ita aly* Cypr rus Norw way Greec ce Irelan nd Sloven UK ia Slovak kia Polan
Countries that are progressing Belgium 10% Denmark 0% -10% Latvia -20% Germany -30% Netherlands -40% -50% Luxembour rg Franc ce Portug gal Switzerlan nd Ma alta Belgiu um Denma ark Latv via Germa any The Netherland ds Spa ain Aust tria nd ic Swede en Italy* Cypr rus Norw way Greec ce Irelan nd UK Sloven nia Slovak kia Pola and Spain Austria Finland -22.4% Czech Republic Cz Czech Republic Finla zech Republi Eston nia Bulgar ria Roman nia Hunga ary Lithuan nia Sweden
and Eston nia Bulgar ria Roman nia Hunga ary Lithuan nia UK Sloven nia Slovak kia Pola Countries that are lagging behind 10% Lithuania 0% Hungary -10% -20% Romania -30% Bulgaria -40% Estonia -50% Luxembour rg Franc ce Portug gal Switzerlan nd Ma alta Belgiu um Denma ark Latv via Germa any The Netherland ds Spa ain Aust tria Finla Czech Republi nd ic Swede en Italy* Cypr rus Norw way Greec ce Irelan nd
Reduction in road deaths 2001-2006 Best reductions in countries with medium levell of safety Luxembourg, France, Portugal > 40% Also frontrunners progressed well Switzerland, Netherlands about 25% Little or no progress in other countries Lithuania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Estonia, Romania, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia and UK, Ireland and Greece
EU Legislative Action: 3 recent developments Infrastructure Directive: soon to be adopted in 2008 Pedestrian Protection Regulation: to be adopted in 2008 Cross Border Enforcement Directive: to be adopted in 2009?
Infrastructure safety: Directive Proposal COM (2006) 569 In order to increase safety of road infrastructures, the Commission proposed a comprehensive system of road infrastructure safety management through a directive focussing on the following four procedures: Road safety impact assessments Road safety audits Network safety management Safety inspections
The Roads to Respect Programme (R2R) The Roads to Respect: a programme for the treatment of High Risk Sites in Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovenia and Serbia
Cross Border Enforcement Directive European Commission Proposal (March 2008) Key areas: drink driving, speeding, seat belt use Technical & legal measures for identifiation and prosecution of non- resident offending drivers ETSC: Good, but more link to road safety enforcement IN the Member States Add drugs, mobile phone use Find solution for Driver/owner Responsibility for follow up
Short-term progress (1) Why are some countries doing better than others? Political l leadership
Short-term progress (2) Enhancing compliance with traffic law
Short-term progress (3) Political leadership Enhancing compliance with traffic law Infrastructure
The EU needs further efforts The frontrunners cannot do the work for the others! 120% 110% 100% Lithuania Hungary Estonia 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% Finland Portugal France Luxembourg 40% 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
The EU needs further efforts 1.1 Re lative num mber of ro oad deaths (2001=1 1) 1 09 0.9 0.8 0.7 06 0.6 0.5 EU target EU15 EU25 EU27 0.4 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Ranking on seat belt use Seat belt wearing in front seats, 2005
Seat belt use
Seat belts = life savers. In Europe, another 2,400 drivers (15%) could survive traffic crashes every year if 99% of fdi drivers wore their belt.
Seat belt reminders in new cars
Mandatory fitment EU legislation requiring seat belt reminders in the front and rear seats
Trends in mean speed Reductions on all types of road France 6-11% Switzerland 3-8% Belgium 4-6%
Mean speed Rural roads Changes in mean speed - Rural roads 100.0 90.0 80.0 70.0 France national -10.9% France depart. -10.7% Switzerland -7.7% France national 90 France depart. 90 Switzerland 80 Finland 80 Finland 100 60.0 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Change in mean speed - motorways Change in mean speed - Motorways 130.0 125.0 120.0 110.0 105.0 France - 56% 5.6% 115.0 France 130 Switzerland - 3,5% Switzerland 120 Finland 120 100.0 95.0 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) With ISA the vehicle "knows" the maximum speed for each particular road (usually through a GPS system). The system informs drivers of the speed limit, warns them when exceeding the limit, or even prevents them from speeding. ISA has been tested in field trials across Europe, spreading from the SUN countries (Sweden, UK, Netherlands) to Denmark, Finland, Belgium, France, Austria & Norway. Immediate fitting of an informative ISA to the vehicle fleet of the one the world s safest country, the UK, can reduce fatal accidents by 18% (Carsten & Tate, 2000). Adoption needs support by public authorities: development of reliable speed maps to enable ISA nationwide; tax cuts and reduced insurance premiums to promote ISA; legislation to make ISA mandatory for novice drivers.
Ranking on drink-driving Yearly percentage change in drink driving deaths relative to other road deaths 6 4 2 (1) Czech Republic 11.3% 0-2 -4-6 -8 (2) Germany 6.2% (3) Poland 5.6% -10-12 -14 Czech Republic Germany* Poland Slovakia Netherlands Latvia Austria France Greece Lithuania Switzerland Denmark Estonia Great Britain Finland Slovenia Hungary Spain** * 1996-98 98 to 2005
Frontrunners Changes in drink driving deaths contribute more than their share to overall reduction in road deaths 6 4 Czech 2 Republic 0 Germany -2-4 Poland Slovakia Netherlands Latvia Austria -6-8 -10-12 -14 Cze zech Republic Germany* Poland Slovakia Netherlands Latvia Austria France Greece Lithuania Switzerland Denmark Estonia Great Britain Finland Slovenia Hungary Spain**
Spain** Laggards Changes in drink driving deaths slow down overall reduction in road deaths 6 4 2 0-2 Spain -4 Hungary -6-8 Slovenia So -10-12 Great Britain -14 Estonia Hungary Czec ech Republic Germany* Poland Slovakia Netherlands Latvia Austria France Greece Lithuania Switzerland Denmark Estonia Great Britain Finland Slovenia
Enforcement: Alcolocks Positive impact in field trials in Europe: S, FIN, F, UK. NL: Positive cost-benefit-ratio: benefits 10 timer greater than the costs. Acceptance: 34% EU drivers are in favour (2003) New plans in France for roll out to school buses and recidivist programmes.
Upcoming ETSC Publications & Events PIN Ranking May 2008: Safety of Elderly PIN Conference 23 rd June 2008 Curbing Speed Publication May 2008
Priorities for action Behavioural measures Enforcement of traffic law (implementation ti of EC Recommendation) Cross-Border Enforcement Directive Infrastructure measures Infrastructure Safety Directive Treatment of high risk sites at national level Vehicle measures Pedestrian Protection Regulation ESC EuroNCAP (one overall rating: including pedestrian protection) Seat belt reminders, Alcohol interlocks, Intelligent speed assistance
To know more Bi-monthly newsletter to monitor safety policy developments in the EU www.etsc.be